Developments in Psychometric Population Models for Technology-Based Large-Scale Assessments: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

International large-scale assessments (ILSAs) transitioned from paper-based assessments to computer-based assessments (CBAs) facilitating the use of new item types and more effective data collection tools. This allows implementation of more complex test designs and to collect process and response time (RT) data. These new data types can be used to improve data quality and the accuracy of test scores obtained through latent regression (population) models. However, the move to a CBA also poses challenges for comparability and trend measurement, one of the major goals in ISLAs. We provide an overview of current methods used in ILSAs to examine and assure the comparability of data across different assessment modes and methods that improve the accuracy of test scores by making use of new data types provided by a CBA.